First epidemiological survey of Leishmania infantum in the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) in a canine leishmaniosis endemic area using serology and PCR
Abstract Background Leishmaniosis, a vector-borne disease caused by Leishmania infantum, is one of the most important parasitic zoonoses in Europe. The transmission cycle of leishmaniosis is maintained by both domestic and wild animals. However, few data are available on the role of wild mammals in...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-022-05517-y |
| _version_ | 1811249927030833152 |
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| author | María Magdalena Alcover Jacobo Giner Judit Rabasedas Xavier Roca-Geronés Maite Verde Antonio Fernández Cristina Riera Roser Fisa Sergio Villanueva-Saz |
| author_facet | María Magdalena Alcover Jacobo Giner Judit Rabasedas Xavier Roca-Geronés Maite Verde Antonio Fernández Cristina Riera Roser Fisa Sergio Villanueva-Saz |
| author_sort | María Magdalena Alcover |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Leishmaniosis, a vector-borne disease caused by Leishmania infantum, is one of the most important parasitic zoonoses in Europe. The transmission cycle of leishmaniosis is maintained by both domestic and wild animals. However, few data are available on the role of wild mammals in transmitting the parasite in the European Mediterranean basin. As feline leishmaniosis, diagnosis of the infection in ferrets can be a challenge, the use of different serological and molecular methods combined is a recommended approach. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of infection of L. infantum in apparently healthy domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) in an endemic region of Spain (Community of Valencia), using serological and molecular methods and to evaluate the results comparing the different techniques. Methods The prevalence of Leishmania infection was studied in domestic ferrets. Blood was collected from each animal for serology and molecular analysis. Two serological methods, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blot (WB), were used for the detection of L. infantum antibodies, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used for the detection of L. infantum DNA. Results Blood samples from 102 apparently healthy ferrets were analyzed. In the serological study, 25.5% of the animals tested positive by western blot, and 9.0% by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The seroprevalence of L. infantum infection, based on a positive result in any serological test, was 28.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 20.6–S37.9%). No kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) was detected by qPCR in peripheral blood samples from the ferrets tested. Conclusions The immunological response revealed by these tests indicates that the ferrets are exposed to repeated inoculations with the endemic parasite L. infantum. Although the low population of domestic ferrets means their reservoir potential is limited in the absence of a primary host, it would be of interest to carry out further studies using xenodiagnosis to determine whether they are accidental or reservoir host species capable of spreading infection. Graphical Abstract |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T15:55:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-676bedb2accc4ba595e10073b1085c68 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T15:55:04Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-676bedb2accc4ba595e10073b1085c682022-12-22T03:26:23ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052022-10-011511810.1186/s13071-022-05517-yFirst epidemiological survey of Leishmania infantum in the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) in a canine leishmaniosis endemic area using serology and PCRMaría Magdalena Alcover0Jacobo Giner1Judit Rabasedas2Xavier Roca-Geronés3Maite Verde4Antonio Fernández5Cristina Riera6Roser Fisa7Sergio Villanueva-Saz8Departament de Biologia, Facultat de Farmacia, Salut i Medi Ambient, Universitat de BarcelonaLaboratorio de Inmunopatología Clínica, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de ZaragozaDepartament de Biologia, Facultat de Farmacia, Salut i Medi Ambient, Universitat de BarcelonaDepartament de Biologia, Facultat de Farmacia, Salut i Medi Ambient, Universitat de BarcelonaLaboratorio de Inmunopatología Clínica, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de ZaragozaLaboratorio de Inmunopatología Clínica, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de ZaragozaDepartament de Biologia, Facultat de Farmacia, Salut i Medi Ambient, Universitat de BarcelonaDepartament de Biologia, Facultat de Farmacia, Salut i Medi Ambient, Universitat de BarcelonaLaboratorio de Inmunopatología Clínica, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de ZaragozaAbstract Background Leishmaniosis, a vector-borne disease caused by Leishmania infantum, is one of the most important parasitic zoonoses in Europe. The transmission cycle of leishmaniosis is maintained by both domestic and wild animals. However, few data are available on the role of wild mammals in transmitting the parasite in the European Mediterranean basin. As feline leishmaniosis, diagnosis of the infection in ferrets can be a challenge, the use of different serological and molecular methods combined is a recommended approach. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of infection of L. infantum in apparently healthy domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) in an endemic region of Spain (Community of Valencia), using serological and molecular methods and to evaluate the results comparing the different techniques. Methods The prevalence of Leishmania infection was studied in domestic ferrets. Blood was collected from each animal for serology and molecular analysis. Two serological methods, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blot (WB), were used for the detection of L. infantum antibodies, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used for the detection of L. infantum DNA. Results Blood samples from 102 apparently healthy ferrets were analyzed. In the serological study, 25.5% of the animals tested positive by western blot, and 9.0% by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The seroprevalence of L. infantum infection, based on a positive result in any serological test, was 28.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 20.6–S37.9%). No kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) was detected by qPCR in peripheral blood samples from the ferrets tested. Conclusions The immunological response revealed by these tests indicates that the ferrets are exposed to repeated inoculations with the endemic parasite L. infantum. Although the low population of domestic ferrets means their reservoir potential is limited in the absence of a primary host, it would be of interest to carry out further studies using xenodiagnosis to determine whether they are accidental or reservoir host species capable of spreading infection. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-022-05517-yELISAFerretLeishmania infantumPrevalencePCRSerology |
| spellingShingle | María Magdalena Alcover Jacobo Giner Judit Rabasedas Xavier Roca-Geronés Maite Verde Antonio Fernández Cristina Riera Roser Fisa Sergio Villanueva-Saz First epidemiological survey of Leishmania infantum in the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) in a canine leishmaniosis endemic area using serology and PCR Parasites & Vectors ELISA Ferret Leishmania infantum Prevalence PCR Serology |
| title | First epidemiological survey of Leishmania infantum in the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) in a canine leishmaniosis endemic area using serology and PCR |
| title_full | First epidemiological survey of Leishmania infantum in the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) in a canine leishmaniosis endemic area using serology and PCR |
| title_fullStr | First epidemiological survey of Leishmania infantum in the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) in a canine leishmaniosis endemic area using serology and PCR |
| title_full_unstemmed | First epidemiological survey of Leishmania infantum in the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) in a canine leishmaniosis endemic area using serology and PCR |
| title_short | First epidemiological survey of Leishmania infantum in the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) in a canine leishmaniosis endemic area using serology and PCR |
| title_sort | first epidemiological survey of leishmania infantum in the domestic ferret mustela putorius furo in a canine leishmaniosis endemic area using serology and pcr |
| topic | ELISA Ferret Leishmania infantum Prevalence PCR Serology |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-022-05517-y |
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